Toy tracks



A. EINFALT June 2, 1964 TOY TRACKS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 20, 1961 June 2, 1964 Filed Oct. 20, 1961 A. EINFALT TOY TRACKS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 A. EINFALT TOY TRACKS June 2, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 20, 1961 United States Patent 3,135,068 TOY TRACKS Alfred Einfait, 'Nurnberg, Bavaria, "Germany, assignor to Gebruder Einfal't Blechspielwarcnfabrik, Numberg,

Bavaria, Germany, a firm Filed Oct. 20, 19161,.Ser. No. 149,803 Claims priority, application Germany Aug. 19, 1961 0 Claims. (0]. 46-202) The .invention relates to a toy comprising a closed track and toy vehicles equipped with a driving mechanism for running on said main track.

The toy according .to the invention is composed of a'maintrack for the vehicles to whicha plurality of starting and stopping stations are coordinated which are open at their rear and front ends to allow the vehicles to run out on to the main track from the front end to run in to the starting and stopping stations from the main track at the .rear end of the stations.

By this novel construction the advantage is derived that one or more vehicles can be arrested at the starting and stopping stations while the other toy vehicles continue to run round the closed main track.

At the same time it is particularly advantageous if the toy vehicles are conducted in to the starting and stopping stations along a run-out track section branching from the main track which for this purpose is pro- .vided with a control element capable of .being lowered into and raised out of the main track to deflect the vehicles into the run-out section.

Thus the person playing with the toy is able to decide which vehicle or vehicles he wishes to deflect from the main track into one of the starting and stopping stations.

This is etlected in an advantageous manner "by providing each starting and stopping station with a release element which can be actuated by the person playing with the toy and which actuates a drop lever on the vehicle which stops the vehicle in known manner. The person playing with the toy is therefore in a position to eifect the running of the vehicles into and out of a starting and stopping station at Will.

A rocker-like lever is preferably used as starting element which is constructed at one end as a key while its other end raises the drop lever of the toy vehicle which has engaged in a slot in the track to bring the vehicle to a standstill.

The toy according to the invention is further characterized in that guide ledges adapted to be raised and lowered, are mounted at the entrances to the run-in section leading to the starting and stopping stations and which in raised position cooperate with lateral projecting arms on the toy vehicles.

At the same time it is advantageous to arrange guide rails extending from the vertically shiftable guide ledges on the inner side of the curve and to provide these rails with an ascending run-on edge and, at an angle thereto, a descending run-off edge, with which edges the projecting "arms of the toy vehicles cooperate after leaving the guide ledges.

The guide ledges are at the same time preferably arranged at one end of a two-armed tip lever, the other end of which is constructed 'as a key to be actuated by the person playing with the toy.

By means of these guide ledges and guide rails extending therefrom the toy vehicles can be reliably guided into any desired starting and stopping station. "By the guide rails which cooperate with the laterally projecting arms on the toy vehicles, which are known per se, the toy vehicles are reliably prevented from swinging out of the main track when negotiating a sharp curve at the entrance to the run-out track section leading to the starting and stopping stations.

3,135,068 Patented June 2, 1964 The guide ledges can also .be arranged at one end of a rocker lever, the other end of which projects into a .slot in the neighbouring starting and stopping station and is depressed by a vehicle standing in this starting and stopping station so .that the guide ledge is raised.

This novel construction prevents a toy vehicle travelling along the run-in track section leading to the starting and stopping stations from running into the back of a vehicle already standing in a starting and stopping station. The oncoming toy vehicle will always run into a 'free or unoccupied starting and stopping station.

It .is likewise also possible according to a modified form of construction to arrange the control element which, in raised position blocks the main track, on an actuating member capable of moving up and down.

This actuating member is preferably raised by means of a rocker lever engaging from below.

To simplify the operation of the toy and in order not to overtax the brain, particularly of chlidren, it is advantageous for the actuating member to be mounted so that it can be raised by an extension of the rocker lever of the guide ledges.

To increase the interest in the toy, the closed main track can have at least one sharp-angle curve on the inner side of whichsupports are arranged which engage the projecting arms of the toy vehicle and have an ascending run-0n edge and, at an angle thereto, a descending run-off edge. By this measure it is possible for a toy vehicle to travel along the main track at a high speed without being .fiung out of the track in the sharp curve.

Several embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a plate provided with a main endless track with toy vehicles movable thereon;

FIG. 2 a section taken on line II of FIG. .1, the elements for controlling the movements of the vehicles on the track being in inoperative position;

FIG. 3 a similar section to FIG. 2, wherein the control elements are being operated;

FIG. 4 a side elevation of a toy vehicle and a longitudinal section of part of the track in the neighbourhood of astarting and stopping station;

FIG. 5 a section taken on line IIII of FIG. '1, the control elements being in inoperative position;

FIG. 6 the same section as FIG. 5 but 'wherein the control elements are being operated;

FIG. 7 is a section on line llI-III of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 a section of the track taken along the plane IVIV of FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a section taken of FIG. 1 with raised guide rail;

FIG. 10 is a plan view of a modified form of con struction of the toy;

FIG. l1 a section taken on line VV of FIG. 10 the control elements being in inoperative position;

FIG. 12 a similar section to FIG. 1'1 but when a vehicle is present .on one of the starting and stopping stations, and

FIG. 13 .a section taken on line VIV-I of .FIG. 10.

The toy according to the invention consists of a plate 1 on which a main track 2 is formed for example by embossing. The main track is a closed track. It can have several sharp curves 3. Other structures, such as a miniature grandstand 4, which add to the interest or appearance of the toy, can also :be arranged on the plate 1 adjacent the maintrackz.

A run-out track section 5 branches from the 'main track 2 and leads to the starting .and stopping stations 6. These stations are opentowards the main track at their front end so that the toy vehicles 7 can run out of the station on to the main track 2.

Each of the toy vehicles 7 has its own driving mechanism, for example a spring motor, which can be stopped and started by means of a drop lever 8 in a manner known per se. As can be seen from FIG. 4, the driving mechanism of a toy vehicle 7 is stopped by the drop lever 8 falling into a slot in the tracks. By raising this lever 8 the driving mechanism is released and can drive the vehicle in which it is mounted.

The vehicles 7 are each likewise provided with laterally projecting arms 9. These arms are formed by triangular plates 10 having a downwardly directed lug 11 at their outwardly directed point.

Coordinated to each of the starting and stopping stations 6 is a starting element to be actuated by the person playing with the toy and which consists of a rocker-like lever 12 one end of which is constructed as a key 13. The other end 14 of the rocker lever is capable of rising adjacent a slot 15 in the track provided for its reception. The lever 12 is pivoted on the under side of the plate 1. When the key 13 is depressed (see FIGS. 2 and 3) the end 14 of the lever 12 is raised with the result that the drop lever 8 of a vehicle which has fallen into the slot 15 will be lifted, thereby releasing the driving mechanism of the toy vehicle 7.

The vehicles 7 are deflected from the track 2 onto the run-out section by means of a guide rail 16 capable of being raised and lowered and which, in raised position, acts on the wheels of an oncoming vehicle 7 so that this vehicle is deflected on to the run-out section 5.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 and the sections thereof shown in FIGS. 5, 6, 7 and 9, the guide rail 16 is arranged on a vertically shiftable member 17. This member 17 consists of a plate 18 mounted at one end underneath the plate 1. The guide rail 16 is raised and lowered for actuation by means of tip lever 19 engaging under the member 17. The tip levers 19 are also mounted on the underside of the plate 1. One end 20 of each lever is constructed as a key 21 to be actuated by the person using the toy.

The tip levers 19 not only raise and lower their respective actuating member but also perform the function of deflecting a toy vehicle 7 on to the starting and stopping station 6 coordinated to the particular tip lever 19. Consequently one arm 22 of the tip levers is provided with a guide ledge 23 which in raised position, that is when the key 21 is depressed, cooperates with the projecting arms 9 of the toy vehicle 7, in that the guide ledge 23 engages behind the lug 11 of a projecting arm 9.

By engaging behind a projecting arm 9, the deflecting movement of a toy vehicle 7 is effected at the entrance of the run-out section 5 leading to the corresponding starting and stopping station 6. The guide ledges each have extending from them a guide rail 24 with an ascend-.

ing run-on edge 25 and, at an angle thereto, a descending run-off edge 26. The lugs 11 of the projecting arms 9 of the vehicles cooperate with the edges 25 and 26 of the guide rails 24 after leaving the guide ledges 23 so that the toy vehicle 7 runs reliably into the desired starting and stopping station 6.

In the embodiment according to FIG. 1 it is at the discretion of the player into which starting and stopping station a vehicle is to be guided. The construction illustrated in FIG. however differs herefrom in that a vehicle 7 is automatically caused to run into a certain starting and stopping station 6. The deflection of the vehicle 7 from the main track 2 on to the run-out section 5 is effected by the guide ledge 27 which is arranged on the end of one arm 28 of the two-armed tip lever 29. The other arm of this lever 29 is constructed as a key 31 to be actuated by the person playing with the toy. The tip lever 29 is also mounted on the under side of the plate 1 (see FIG. 13).

If all the starting and stopping stations 6 are unoccupied, a toy vehicle 7 deflected from the track 2 on to the run-out section 5 by the raised guide ledge 27 will run up to the mouth of the starting and stopping station 6' arranged at the end of the run-out section 5. At the entrance to the starting and stopping station 6' leading from the run-out section 5 there is a guide rail 24' the ascending run-on edge 25' has an extension so that it is reliably engaged from above by the lug 11 of the projecting arm 9 of the toy vehicle. A vehicle 7 running on to the starting and stopping station 6' (see FIG. 10) is stopped by its drop lever 8 falling into the slot 15 in the station. When at a standstill it exerts pressure, for example by means of a wheel, on the plate 32 which is mounted on one arm 33 of a rocker lever 34. The rocker lever 34 is mounted on the underside of the plate 1. By depression of the plate 32 the other arm 35 of the rocker lever 34 is swung upwards so that the guide ledge 23 arranged thereon is raised. It then engages behind the lug 11 of the projecting arm of the next oncoming vehicle 7 so that this next vehicle moving along the run-out track section 5 will be deflected into the neighbouring starting and stopping station 6". Therefore, in the embodiment according to FIG. 10, an oncoming vehicle will always be guided by a neighbouring starting and stopping station into the starting and stopping station in front of it.

At sharp curves 3 in the track 2 supports 36 can be arranged on the inner side of the curves, which supports, like the guide rails 24, are provided with an ascending run-on edge 37 and, at an angle thereto, a descending run-off edge 38.

The run-on and run-ofl edges 37 and 38 always cooperate with the projecting arms 9 of the toy vehicles so that the curves 3 can be run through by the vehicles at a high speed.

The toy according to FIG. 1 functions in the following manner:

The toy vehicles 7 are placed ready for running on the starting and stopping stations 6. As the drop levers 8 of the toy vehicles project into the slots 15 the vehicles are prevented from starting to move. When the person playing with the toy wishes one of the vehicles to start, he must depress a key 13 on a two-armed lever 12, there by raising the drop lever of the toy vehicle. The vehicle 7 thus influenced, then runs out of its starting and stopping station 6 on to the main track 2. The toy vehicles set in operation in this manner continue to run on the main track 2 until by depressing a key 21 the guide rail 16ris raised whereby the toy vehicle 7 is deflected on to the run-out track section 5. According to'which of the keys 21 is depressed a guide ledge 23 projects in front of the guide bars or rails 24 into the path of travel of the vehicle 7. The raised guide ledge 23 engages one of the projecting arms 9 of a vehicle and in cooperation with the respective guide rail 24 deflects this vehicle into the starting and stopping station 6 coordinated to the key 21 and the vehicle is then brought to a standstill by its drop lever 8 engaging in the slot 15.

The operation in the case of the construction illustrated in FIG. 10 diflers herefrom when the vehicles 7 are on the track 2. By depressing the key 31 a guide rail 27 can be raised and deflects the first oncoming vehicle 7 on to the run-out track section 5. This vehicle, if all the starting and stopping stations are unoccupied, travels up to the starting and stopping station 6'. There it is brought to a standstill by its drop lever 8 engaging the slot 15. At the same time it depresses the plate 32 so that at the entrance to the neighbouring starting and stopping station 6" the guide ledge 23 projects into the path of travel of the next oncoming vehicle 7 with the result that this vehicle is deflected into this starting and stopping station 6" where it then comes to a standstill.

I claim:

1. A toy comprising in combination: a toy vehicle having a driving mechanism and a drop-lever movable up and down to release and stop the vehicle respectively; and a track system for said vehicle, said track system comprising a base plate, a closed main track on said base plate, a plurality of adjacent starting and stopping stations on said base plate and opening at one end to said main track, each of said stations having a vehicle drop-lever receiving slot formed therein and means for elevating said drop-lever from said slots, a run-out track section on said base plate connecting said main track and the other end of each of said starting and stopping stations, guide means for directing the vehicle from said run-out track section into said starting and stopping stations, means for actuating said guide means, deflecting means for diverting the vehicle from said main track onto said run-out section, and actuating means for controlling said deflecting means.

2. The combination recited in claim 1 in which said means for elevating said drop-levers from said slots includes a rocker-lever pivotally supported below said plate and having one end projecting from said plate as a key to permit manual release of said vehicle from said starting and stopping stations.

3. The combination recited in claim 1 in which said deflecting means includes a guide rail projecting from a vertically shiftable member supported below said base plate and wherein said last mentioned actuating means includes a tip lever pivoted under said plate engaging said shiftable member at one end and at its other end projecting from said plate as a key for manual control.

4. The combination recited in claim 1 wherein said last mentioned actuating means includes a tip lever pivoted under said base plate and having one end projecting from said plate as a key for manual operation and wherein said deflecting means is in the form of a guide rail pm jecting upwardly through said plate from the other end of said tip lever.

5. The combination recited in claim 1 wherein said toy vehicle includes laterally projecting arms and wherein said guide means for directing the vehicle from said run-out track section into said starting and stopping stations includes vertically shiftable guide ledges cooperable with said laterally projecting arms to guide said vehicle into the respective starting and stopping stations.

6. The combination in claim 5 wherein said guide means includes further, guide rails projecting from said base plate at the end of said starting and stopping stations adjacent said run-out track section, said guide rails thus being positioned adjacent said guide ledges and forming continuation thereof for assisting in directing the vehicle from said run-out track section into said starting and stopping stations and each having an ascendnig run-0n edge and, at an angle thereto, a descending run-off edge.

7. The combination recited in claim 5 wherein said means for actuating said guide means includes a twoarmed lever having one arm projecting from said base plate as a key for manual actuation and wherein said guide ledges project upwardly from the other arm of said lever.

8. The combination recited in claim 5 wherein the means for actuating said guide means includes a rocker lever having one end projecting into a slot in a starting and stopping station to be depressed by a vehicle standing thereon and wherein said guide ledges project upwardly from the other end of said rocker lever positioned to guide another vehicle into an adjacent starting and stopping station.

9. The combination recited in claim 1 wherein said toy vehicle is provided with laterally projecting arms and wherein the closed main track has at least one sharp curve, said base plate having supports positioned on the inner side of said curve for engaging said laterally projecting arms, said supports having an ascending run-on edge and, at an angle thereto, a descending run-ofi edge to facilitate engagement with and disengagement from said projecting arms.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. A TOY COMPRISING IN COMBINATION: A TOY VEHICLE HAVING A DRIVING MECHANISM AND A DROP-LEVER MOVABLE UP AND DOWN TO RELEASE AND STOP THE VEHICLE RESPECTIVELY; AND A TRACK SYSTEM FOR SAID VEHICLE, SAID TRACK SYSTEM COMPRISING A BASE PLATE, A CLOSED MAIN TRACK ON SAID BASE PLATE, A PLURALITY OF ADJACENT STARTING AND STOPPING STATIONS ON SAID BASE PLATE AND OPENING AT ONE END TO SAID MAIN TRACK, EACH OF SAID STATIONS HAVING A VEHICLE DROP-LEVER RECEIVING SLOT FORMED THEREIN AND MEANS FOR ELEVATING SAID DROP-LEVER FROM SAID SLOTS, A RUN-OUT TRACK 